Geely News

China is about to ban a popular feature on new cars.Retractable door handles on cars will be banned in China from January 2027, according to a public notice from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).Under the draft rules, cars will be required to have mechanical emergency releases for exterior and interior door handles. Exterior door handles must be positioned within accessible areas on the door or door frame. For interior side doors, they must have at least one mechanical interior handle, and a minimum of one interior handle must be visible to occupants.Many manufacturers had been adopting retractable door handles on their vehicles, with it quickly becoming the latest premium gimmick.There are also some other more practical benefits such as aiding aerodynamics by reducing drag when the car is moving. Despite the points in favour, there have been several safety concerns raised, including a fatal fire-related incident in China recently. In situations where electric vehicles become submerged or catch alight, the electrics can malfunction and halt the operation of any electric door handles, leaving occupants trapped. This latest ban will require manufacturers to rethink their approach to door handle design if they want to continue selling their cars in China.This will likely have knock-on effects for Australia given it's an important export market for many Chinese carmakers.Among the many carmakers utilising electric door handles are Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, as well as plenty of Chinese competitors. Similar concerns around electric door handle safety have also been raised in Australia.The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has adapted its safety testing protocols from 2026, placing emphasis on electric door handles. “Increasingly popular electrically-operated door handles – which sit flush with bodywork when not in use – should remain operable after any crash,” a press release read. ANCAP’s official 2026 changes brochure expands on this. “We’re asking that cars with electric door handles – those powered by the cars’ 12 volt auxiliary battery – provide the ability for all side door handles to be in the extended/ready-to-open position immediately after a crash,” it reads. “They’ll also need to remain operable from the inside, or provide a manual override, so that occupants can exit, or first-responders can gain access inside the vehicle after a crash.”

New car reviews are the backbone of CarsGuide’s offering to its readers and viewers. The aim is to provide in-market buyers with the independent information they need to make an informed purchase decision and interested browsers with enough detail to satisfy their curiosity.

2025 was certainly the year of the new car brand coming to Australia.

Feel like there’s suddenly a whole lot of new car brands with logos you don’t even recognise.

The federal government has announced there will be a statutory review into the Electric Car Discount.

Geely’s namesake brand has confirmed it’ll launch a third model to its line-up in Australia during 2026.

Newcomer Chinese brands are making a real impact on Australia's new-car market, with several household name brands falling behind in November.

A camouflaged Geely EX2 has been spied in China, with small changes to the recently launched budget electric car - and it could come to Australia.

A family SUV has picked up a big boost soon after its Aussie release. The Geely Starray EM-i has received a serious upgrade in China less than three months after the older version launched in Australia, according to CarNews China. The updates in China has seen its EV-only range boosted to 200km in the top-of-the-range variant, according to the very generous CLTC testing system.The current Starray can travel up to 83km thanks to its 18.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.It keeps the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the current version and pairs it with an upgraded electric motor that makes a combined 175kW, up from 160kW.This increased power could result in a slight improvement on the 8.0 seconds for the current car’s 0-100km/h sprint. Fuel efficiency for the current model sits at a combined total of 2.4L/100km (WLTP), and this is unlikely to change with the new variant. The Starray gets a bigger 15.4-inch multimedia screen and a 10.2-inch digital driver display, with a six-speaker audio system. The announcement comes after the car’s release in Australia in September of this year.Aussie versions of the car starts from $37,490, before on-road costs, which is a little cheaper than the all-electric EX5, starting at $40,990. It is priced competitively with its rivals, such as the Chery Tiggo 7 Urban and BYD Sealion 6 Essential.More than 500 examples of the Starray have been sold in Australia in just a few months, which represents a solid start when compared to other brands.Another of its rivals, Leapmotor’s C10, comes in hybrid and all-electric guise and has only mustered 509 sales since its March 2025 launch. Starray and EX5 combined sales are approaching 4000 in roughly the same period. Geely when contacted for comment were not willing to confirm whether the updated Starray variant will makes its way to Australia.

Why Geely isn't flooding the market with new models.